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Testing, re-setting my radios etc

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BushWacker
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Testing, re-setting my radios etc

#1

Post by BushWacker »

On a recent weekend outing I had
coms problems with my radios ...
could recieve/hear radio calls but unable to answer. ... so today took my radios in for
a check-up with a radio guy in Rand Park Ridge
I have a hand-held and a fixed set ,
both Kenwoods.

First he cross-checked each of my radios
against his (correctly set !) one...
send and recieve signals.
My handheld proved to be correct on all 9
channels but the fixed unit had 3 channels
that didnt work ... sending or recieving.
ie channels 2, 4 & 9

he. then connected his computer to my fixed unit via the microphone jack and invoked
an app that scanned the radio and its channels
and it produced an array table of
channels, frequencies, subtones etc for each
It was immediately evident that my 3 problem channels , 2, 4 & 9 had the wrong frequency
settings which he then corrected on his
keyboard.
The table below shows rqd channel info

https://ibb.co/cJwqVxX

It transpired that channels 2,4& 9 are
meant to be set to freq 160....
whereas mine were set. 161.... !

In talking to this guy I learnt a number
of other things:

- if you touch the bare aerial whilst its
transmitting it can burn you!
- the best aerial location is in the middle of the flat cab-roof else on the bull- bar
preferably based above the level of the bonnet
so that its furthest from the wndscreen .
- The ‘Scan’ feature is not a good default setting
as it may indicate a different channel with same frequency (not approp sub-tone?)
Its best that drivers nominate a channel
(typically 3) and all set radios to stay on
and use that channel.
- that my hand-held has another button that when pressed in reduces the ‘squelsh’
when reception is faint or unclear.

contact is:

Ramao Radios
(appointment by phone rqd)
cell ‭+27 (82) 552-4440‬
29 Farrow Av
Randpark Ridge
Last edited by BushWacker on Thu Feb 28, 2019 8:55 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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KurtG
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#2

Post by KurtG »

Well done for fixing it Chas
Flex is overrated

BushWacker
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#3

Post by BushWacker »

Thanks Kurt ... but I still suspect
your radios not 100% ...
as we weren't using ch 2, 4 or 9 ...
and I also called/listened you on my
hand held ... without proper coms ...
... maybe you were on ‘scan’ mode ?
Last edited by BushWacker on Thu Feb 28, 2019 9:05 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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KurtG
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#4

Post by KurtG »

I was on channel 3 most of the time and Anton heard me clearly. Then when I wanted to contact Manny’s convoy, I switched to channel 4 and we spoke clearly to each other.

I think mine is all good
Flex is overrated

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Paul#25
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#5

Post by Paul#25 »

We both had contact with Kurt on chanel 3 before Manny and I switched to chanel 4. On the way to the venue I was able to chat to Manny, Kurt and a few other people without any problems. Previously when we did the radio test I spoke to Kurt from my place in Eastleigh. On the mountain passes trip I always had good comms with all the guys on the ORRA channels.
The humble person makes room for progress; the arrogant person believes they’re already there.
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